Reid & Stout win awards as Willie Hunter joins hall of fame
SATURDAY turned into a double celebration for Jenna Reid as her band Blazin’ Fiddles were named best band at the Scottish Traditional Music Awards and she performed a tribute to the late Willie Hunter, who was being inducted into the hall of fame.
The ceremony took place at the Aberdeen Music Hall. Reid, accompanied by Tom Orr, was drafted in at the last minute to perform the tribute to Hunter. Bryan Gear and Violet Tulloch had been scheduled to play, but weather disruption put paid to that.
Hunter’s widow Pat was also unable to make the trip, in what would have been his 80th year. To mark that, a new book of the renowned composer and tutor’s fiddle tunes are to be launched in Lerwick on Friday.
Speaking after the ceremony, Reid said she had been “gutted to learn that Bryan, Violet and Pat couldn’t travel from Shetland”.
“I was really looking forward to hearing their performance,” she said, “as were many, many folk in the music hall that night.”
Creative director Simon Thoumire approached Reid to see if she could stand in at only 24 hours’ notice.
“It was an honour to play,” she said. “All in all, I wanted to see Willie Hunter given the recognition he so rightfully deserves.
“When he appeared in the Hall of Fame film the Aberdeen Music Hall fell silent. It was just thrilling to see him up there with many of Scotland’s greats.
“I am very privileged to have had his teaching and to have known him. May his memory and his music always be strong in Shetland and beyond.”
Hunter is the fifth Shetlander to join the hall of fame, following Tom Anderson, Aly Bain, Jim Halcrow and ‘Peerie Willie’ Johnson.
Meanwhile Reid said Blazin’ Fiddles were “delighted” with winning the best folk band award.
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“It’s been a great year of concerts and festivals in Scotland and beyond, and we are especially excited about our new album ‘SIX’.”
The album is due to be launched at the Celtic Connections festival on 31 January at the Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow.
Another islander, Chris Stout, won an award for best instrumentalist of the year.
Other Shetland nominees were Margaret Scollay in the music tutor category and Mareel, which was up for the best venue award.
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